Mail-box.



I C. F. FARRAR.

MAIL BOX.

Patented Jan; 9,1917.

CHARLES F. FARRAR, OF HOWELL, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BOX.

Application filed June 17, 1916. Serial No. 104,155.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. FARRAR, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Howell, in the county of Livingston and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to mail boxes, and more particularly to that typeof boxes stationed along rural routes for collecting and delivering mailmatters.

The primary object of my invention is to furnish a mail box of the abovetype with an automatic device, which will indicate to a carrier that thebox contains mail, and will also indicate to a subscriber that thecarrier has placed mail matter therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rural mail box with amailing door which, when opened to put in mail, releases a semaphoresignal that automatically assumes a display position at the top of thebox to indicate that mail has been placed therein and after having takenmail from the box should the carrier place mail therein through amailing door provided for that purpose, the signal will be automaticallyset to indicate to the owner that mail has been delivered to him.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mail box of the abovetype wherein the parts are constructed with a View of reducing the costof manufacture and at the same time retaining the features by whichsimplicity of construction, durability, and protection of mail matterare secured.

With such ends in view, my invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specificallydescribed and then claimed, and reference will now be had to thedrawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mail box; Fig. 2is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, showing the lid open andthe signal in a retracted position; Fig. 3 is an enlarged crosssectional view of the mail box with the lid in a closed position and thesignal. retracted, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of themail box.

In the drawing, 1 denotes a mail box or casing having end walls 2 and 3,a front wall at, a rear wall 5, and a hinged lid or top 6. The end walls2 and 3 have the upper edges thereof inclined to support the lid 6 at aninclination to drain rain and other matter off of the top of the box,and to fully protect the contents thereof, the lid 6 has dependingend'and front flanges 7. To connect the lid 6 to the rear wall 5, saidrear wall has the upper edge thereof inturned, as at 8 and provided withbarrels 9 adapted to alinewith barrels 10 of the lid 6 and receive-pivotpins or pintles 11. By refer ence to. Fig. 3, it will be observed thatthe upper edge of the lid is rolled and by engaging the inturned upperedge 8 of the rear wall 5 establishes a non-leakable connection betweenthe lid and the box, thus preventing rain and foreign matter fromentering the box and injuring mail matter placed therein. The end wall 3has an opening 12 normally closed by a door 13 hinged, as at 14, to thewall 3 at the upper edge'of the opening 12.- The lower edge of the door13 is outturned to afford a hand grip 15 by which the door'13 may beeasily swung to an open position.

On the outer side of the door 13, at the rear edge thereof, is an arm 16extending to a slot or opening 17 in the wall 3 contiguous to the rearwall 5. Extending through the slot or opening 17 and connected to thearm 16 is a chain or flexible connection 18, said chain having the innerend thereof attached tothe upper end of a spring or resilient member 19,carried by the inner side of the end wall 3.

Fulcrumed on or pivotally connected to the inner side of the rear wall5, as at 20, is a lever 21, said lever having the short arm thereofprovided with a. comparatively flat weight 22 having a convex edge orface 23 normally engaged by the spring or resilient member 19, saidspring or member holding the lever 21 in an adjusted position.

The long end of the lever 21 is pivotally connected as at 24, to thelower end of a fiat semaphore arm 25, slidable in a guide 26 on theinner side of the rear wall 5. The

the short arm of the lever 21 will be elevated V and thereby retract thesemaphore arm 25.

The end wall 2 01 the mail box cooper ates with the front wall 4 insupporting a tray 29 within an end of the box, and this tray willreadily hold stamps, money or small matter placed within the mail box.

Provision may be made, as at 30, in connection with the lid 6 and thedoor 13 for locking the lid and door in closed positions should occasionrequire it. When a rural route subscriber opens the door 13 to placemail matter within the box, the chain 18 pulls upon the resilient member19 and releases the weighted end of the lever 21, thus raising thesemaphore arm 25 to display a visible signal exteriorly of the box. Whenthe door 13 is closed, the resilient member 19 will engage the weight 22and cooperate therewith in holding the semaphore arm 25 in a raisedposition, thus indicating to a carrier that the box contains mail matteror other matter for his attention. 7

When the carrier opens the lid 6 to obtain the contents of the box, thelid automatically raises the weight 22 and retracts the semaphore arm25. The resilient member 19 will engage the weight 22 and hold thesemaphore arm 25 in a retracted position, thus allowing the lid 6 to beclosed and the box may remain in this condition until mail matter isdeposited in the same.

Assuming that the carrier delivers mail at the same time as receivingmail, the carrier after closing the lid, may open the door 13 andthereby release the weight 22, which will raise the semaphore arm 25 toindicate to a subscriber that the carrier has placed mail within thebox. 7

The mail box in its entirety may be made of light and durable metalfinished to protect the same from forces of nature and to present a neatand attractive appearance. The semaphore arm 25 may be finished topresent a bright color'that may be easily distinguished at a distancethus signaling to a subscriber or carrier the condition of the mail boxand thereby obviating useless trips or examinations of the box.

One embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, but it is to beunderstood that the structural elements are susceptible to suchvariations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaim.

What I claim is A mail box having end walls with one of said wallsprovided with a door opening and a slot, a rear wall having the upperedge thereof inturned, a lid hinged to the upper inturned edge of saidrear wall, a semaphore arm in said box projecting through the inturnedupper edge of said rear wall and adapted to be raised and loweredrelative to said wall, a i'ulcrumed lever in said box connected to saidsemaphore arm, a resilient member in said box engaging said lever tohold said lever in adjusted positions, a hinged door for the doorway ofsaid end wall, and a flexible connection between said resilient memberand said door and extending through the slot of said endwall adapted formoving said resilient member when said door is open.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

G. E. MoGRANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patent-,

Washington, 13.6.

